ANAHEIM — Blake Parker said his perfect inning Tuesday night was “a step in the right direction.”

Literally.

Parker had struggled in spring training and in his first two outings of the regular season. A day after setting the Cleveland Indians down in order Tuesday night, Parker said he looked at some video and realized he needs to focus on driving directly toward the plate.

“I’m trying to get back to simplifying things, throwing strikes and attacking hitters,” Parker said Wednesday morning. “That’s who I’ve always been. I’ve been a strike-thrower. Go after guys and put them away with my stuff. I kind of got away from that.”

Parker, who added another perfect inning in the 11th inning of Wednesday’s game, said he was “trying to create something” and his mechanics may have gotten out of whack.

He conceded that he’s had a different mindset this year. A journeyman reliever for most of his career, last year he had a breakthrough season with the Angels, ascending all the way to the closer role.

“I didn’t pitch great in spring training, even though I felt OK and that kind of frustrated me,” he said. “Maybe I felt I had to re-prove myself or prove myself in a different way.”

Parker gave up 14 runs and 19 hits in 8-2/3 innings in the spring, and then he allowed six of the first 10 hitters he faced in the regular season to reach base.

He was pulled one out into the ninth inning Sunday, before Keynan Middleton bailed him out to get the save. Parker wanted to get back on the mound Tuesday night, even though it was a low leverage spot with an 11-2 lead.

“Blake looked a little more comfortable on the mound,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Hopefully he’s getting acclimated back into his rhythm.”

Although Scioscia hasn’t named a closer, the situations in which he used Parker in his first two games indicate he’s the manager’s first choice. Scioscia said nothing should be read into the situation in which he pitched Tuesday, because they had several relievers unavailable from pitching Monday.

NEW PITCHER

The Angels acquired right-hander Miguel Almonte from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash consideration or a player to be named.

Almonte, who was optioned to Triple-A, will be used out of the bullpen in the Angels system. Almonte, 25, has pitched 10-2/3 innings in the majors in brief appearances in 2015 and 2017. A former top 100 prospect, Almonte has a career 3.77 ERA and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings in the minors.

General Manager Billy Eppler said Almonte has “a big arm with good secondary stuff,” and the Angels will look to him as multi-inning reliever.

In order to create a spot on the 40-man roster, the Angels designated catcher Juan Graterol for assignment.

ALSO

Matt Shoemaker, who was placed on the disabled list with a strained forearm on Tuesday, said he underwent an MRI earlier on Wednesday, but the Angels had not yet released the results. Shoemaker said he expected to undergo additional tests. …

Ian Kisler (groin) has been feeling “really good,” Scioscia said. He is expected to resume baseball activities over the weekend. Scioscia said the Angels are expecting Kinsler to be able to play when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday. …

Andrew Heaney (elbow inflammation) is scheduled to pitch for Inland Empire on Friday. Heaney is expected to throw 80 to 90 pitches. If that goes well, he could rejoin the rotation next week, when the Angels go to six starters.